This May Day, regular students of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY) will crown Havis Amanda. HYY’s decision is historical, as Manta has generally been crowned by members of the student unions’ boards on previous May Days.
‘The theme of our Student Union’s Anniversary year is communality. What could be a better way to celebrate it than to invite volunteers from among our active members to conduct the crowning?’ Vice Chair Krista Laitila from the Board of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki explains.
‘We decided that the 2018 crowning will be different. We wanted to utilise the high-quality enthusiasm and activity found in our Student Union’s members. Many of the students in the Manta Crew have long dreamed of getting to crown Manta’, Laitila says.
For the task of crowning the statue, a volunteer team was selected from among the Student Union’s members through an application procedure. The team is called the Manta Crew, and it consists of 11 students. The goal of the Manta Crew is to make the crowning a larger and more memorable event than before.
‘There will be a bit of carnivalesque supplementary programme surrounding the crowning, such as live music, balloons and glitter. However, we will only reveal everything you can expect later’, Manta Crew’s Project Manager Jyrki Rantanen states.
Progression of the event on May Day Eve
The Crowning of Havis Amanda is a task of honour, with the student unions of the Capital Region alternating in charge of it. HYY last crowned the statue in 2014. Manta will receive its cap in a public event that is open to everyone on May Day Eve, 30 April.
The statue will be washed at 5 pm on May Day Eve. Havis Amanda will be crowned with its cap at 6 pm, and according to tradition, everyone else in Finland will only be allowed to put their student caps on after her. Around 50,000–80,000 people annually follow the over-50-year-old tradition at the Market Square.
The Anniversary year features large events
Besides the Crowning of Manta, the HYY150 Anniversary year includes the Grand Sitsit that will take over the Senate Square in May. The event gathers the higher education students of the Capital Region to eat, drink, sing and enjoy festive academic atmosphere on 24 May.
The Student Union of the University of Helsinki was founded in 1868 and has around 27,000 members. All students of the University of Helsinki who are completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree are members of the Student Union. It is the largest student union in Finland and has around 250 organisations operating under it. HYY’s main tasks include supporting its members’ wellbeing and studies, advocacy work and guidance services.
Representatives of the media are welcome to follow the Crowning of Manta and other events of our Anniversary year. Because of the event’s arrangements, we hope that you will contact HYY’s producer, Arttu Lehtinen, in advance, by Thursday 26 April, regarding any requests for interviews.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Website of the 150 Anniversary year (Student Union of the University of Helsinki): https://www.hyy150.fi
Website of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki: https://hyy.helsinki.fi/fi
Facebook event for the Crowning of Havis Amanda 2018: https://www.facebook.com/events/177680336206856/
Instagram account for the Crowning of Havis Amanda 2018: https://www.instagram.com/mantanlakitus2018/
FURTHER INFORMATION AND REQUESTS FOR INTERVIEWS
Arttu Lehtinen
Producer, Student Union of the University of Helsinki
050 537 2831
Ruut Luukkonen
Viestintäasiantuntija / Kommunikationsspecialist / Communications Specialist
+358 50 543 9609
[email protected]
Helsingin yliopiston ylioppilaskunta (HYY)
Studentkåren vid Helsingfors universitet (HUS)
Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY)
Mannerheimintie 5 C, 2. krs, 00100 Helsinki
www.hyy.fi
www.facebook.com/HYY.HUS
Twitter: @ylioppilaskunta
Instagram: hyy_hus
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